The Knighthawks are launching a new school program; Teddy Bear Auction set for March 10.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Knighthawks announced today that they have teamed up with Villa of Hope for the remainder of the 2017-18 season. Through the partnership, the Knighthawks are launching a new school program, which supports Villa of Hope’s mission of empowering families and youth to rebuild, recover and renew their lives.
“Our collaboration with the Rochester Knighthawks is a new twist on educating youth and families about physical and mental health and how to prevent drug use,” said Villa of Hope Vice President of Development and Marketing Gerianne Puskas. “These are difficult topics for youth to talk about. The Knighthawks are great ambassadors to help Villa of Hope get kids and parents talking about tough issues. We are grateful and excited to be working with the Knighthawks on this initiative and for their support of the Villa through the Teddy Bear Auction and activities with our youth.”
Through the school program, Knighthawks players Brad Gillies, Austin Shanks, Eric Fannell and Jake Withers, along with Villa of Hope staff, will bring a message of hope and strength to local students.
“The Knighthawks are proud to partner with Villa of Hope and support their mission of ‘helping youth and their families regain control over their lives’,” said Knighthawks VP of Sales John Catalano. “We take our role as community ambassadors very seriously and look forward to educating Rochester area students about these difficult issues.”
To learn more about the program, please call (585) 454-4295 or go online to www.knighthawks.com.
The Knighthawks will also offer financial support to Villa of Hope students and teachers by hosting a Teddy Bear Auction on Saturday, March 10 at Connors & Ferris Field at The Blue Cross Arena. Fans can place their bids on the Build-A-Bear Workshop animals, created by the players, at the Villa of Hope auction table during the Knighthawks-Georgia Swarm game. The minimum bid is $50, and bidding is in increments of $10. Winning bidders must arrange for payment before exiting the arena with their bears.
About Villa of Hope
Villa of Hope specializes in helping youth overcome emotional and behavioral challenges to build lifelong strengths. The Villa’s community-based, outpatient, residential and educational programs address behavioral health, mental health and chemical dependency needs by providing trauma-responsive care and developing life-skills. Founded in 1942, Villa of Hope is celebrating 75 years, and serves more than 3,500 young people and their families annually. For more information on Villa of Hope, please visit www.villaofhope.org.